Militant commander among four killed in Karachi shootout

KARACHI: Four terror suspects, an al Qaeda commander among them, were killed in a gunfight with police in a neighbourhood of Karachi on late Monday night, said SSP Rao Anwar.

Police party acting on a tip-off raided an under-construction building in Sachal Goth area where the suspected terrorists were holed up. On seeing police, the terrorists challenged them and opened firing at the police. In the resulting gunfight, all the four terrorists were killed.

SSP Malir Rao Anwar confirmed that among the four killed terrorists was Karachi based al Qaeda commander Akbar Swati alias Mullah. However, he said, the identity of the rest of suspects was being ascertained.

Meanwhile, over a dozen suspects were apprehended during raids carried out by the police in different parts of the metropolis.

Azizabad police rounded up a suspect, who was trying to break into a house with intention of committing robbery by disguising himself as a woman in full-body veil.

On suspicion, Abdullah, a resident of the area, informed the area police about the suspect. When police removed his veil, he turned out to be a male. Afterwards, the police took him into custody and an FIR was registered against him under the relevant sections of criminal law.

The police rounded up 13 suspects during search operation in different parts of Orangi Town.

According to the police, two robbers were killed when they opened fire at each other after heated altercation within the limits of Eidgah police station.

The area police later arrived at the crime scene and shifted the bodies to a morgue. They recovered weapons and snatched valuables from their possession.